He may be known as Mr Fashion, but today Karl Lagerfeld takes another step forward into the world of fragrance, with the launch of two new scents, both named after the man himself. We talk to Karl about scent rituals, accessories and sexism...

How do you feel launching new fragrances after so long? Especially a duo; how important was it to launch both at the same time?
I love fragrances - it’s something I did in the past and I’m happy to do it again in great conditions. I’m against having too many at the same time, but one for men and one for women; it’s a different story. So I think there’s no reason to wait for 6 months or a year to bring out another fragrance. The big market may be women’s, but men’s fragrances are today as important as women’s fragrances. The fragrance is the fragrance… The gender problem is something one can see later.

To your mind, what is the connection between fashion and fragrance? 
Today in fashion, it’s not about just clothes. It has to be everything. Not only handbags or sunglasses: it’s very important in the universe of the label of a brand to have a fragrance. I think fragrances are as important as clothes are. It’s what’s new to your skin. 

What do fragrances represent for you, in your day to day life?
I don’t even imagine that could be a daily life without all fragrances, because it’s like washing your face. So, in today’s life one has to use a fragrance because it’s impolite not to have a beautiful smell. I love the perfume, I love fragrances, I love them for woman, I love them for men, and I think that make’s life in a way more beautiful. It’s the fashion for the nose, fashion for the nose.

Do you have a particular fragrance ritual?
I like to use overdoses of fragrances because I don’t smell them myself anymore, so sometime maybe I use too much, because I like to splash around a big splash. It’s something I adore, spray is ok and today people only use spray but I love to use it like if it was water. After all, it’s an Eau de Toilette! Not on my skin, mostly on my shirt, on my sheets, on my towels, wherever.

On the skin? 
Directly sometimes… also after the bath but mostly on my shirt.

What scent notes appeal to you the the most?
I love iris, I love touches of leather and fruit, and even tobacco touches, even if I don’t smoke I like the smell of tobacco. It’s a mix of all that, what I like. I like tangerine as a scent too. I don’t like too much when it smells like rose or something like this, these very basic classic things. There’s enough perfume like this, and that’s not my taste. There are beautiful old classics but nobody is waiting for me to make a beautiful old classic. I like this very modern approach to perfume.

What are the best memories you have of scent? 
The best memories are the memories of my childhood, but then I have to talk about other brands, and I’m not a promoter of other brands. 

Should every woman have a signature scent or should they mix it up?
‘The smell in the minute’ should be her signature. I think that’s more important. That’s the same problem for men, I don’t know why you asked that sexist question. 

Can you define the Karl Lagerfeld brand?
Yes I can. Finally with the most expensive clothes in the world, I think it’s very important to do something which is not that expensive. And this is always what I wanted to do with my name. I’m quite popular. So, I make something people can wear and can buy without getting problem with the credit card.

What’s the one clothing item that every woman should own?
I think that’s important for everybody: jeans, a beautiful shirt and a jacket. It’s what everybody needs, girls, boys, older ladies, older men, everybody… The basic is today that: beautiful shirt, t-shirt, jean, nice jacket and if you’re a girl, perhaps a skirt because I’m not accrediting skirts for men.

What Karl Lagerfeld accessory finishes someone’s look?
I like watches, but everybody looks on the phone to see what time it is. But watches are beautiful like jewellery now. They don’t have to be that expensive or high line. I’m very happy wearing watches because I think they are beautiful, they are modern, they are really great looking, for me they are kind of modern jewels.

What are you constantly inspired by?
You want me to remain pretentious? Myself. I’m afraid it is my 'me’ time, my taste, my way of seeing things.

Karl Lagerfeld Woman EDP Natural Spray, £65.00 for 85ml, is available exclusively at Harrods